Means for protecting underground pipes and wires



(Model) A. CAMPBELL.

MEANS FOR PROTECTING UNDERGROUND PIPES'AND WIRES. No. 253,181. PatentedFeb. 7.1882.

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i UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE AUGUSTINE CAMPBELL, OF METUOHEN, NEWJERSEY.

MEANS FOR PROTECTING UNDERGROUND PIPES AND WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 253,181, dated February'7', 1882.

Application filed March 28, 1881. (HodeL) To all whom it may concern IBe it known that I, AUGUSTINE CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Me tuchen, in the county of Middlesex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means forProtecting Underground Steam and Similar Pipes and- Telegraph-Wires, ofwhich the following is aspecificatiom My invention relates primarily tomeanst'cr protecting underground steam-pipes i'or general usefulpurposes under what is generally known as the Holly system, and,secondarily, to the formation in the said protector of tubular passagesfor 'the reception of telegraphic wires or cables.

In carrying out my invention I employ sectional protectors of tubularform, constructed of burnt clay,in the center of which is formed anaperture adapted to receive a pipe of considerable diameter for carryingsteam toacousiderable distance, and dispose of the same at intervals,for the purpose of heating,or manufacturin g purposes, the objectot' theprotector being to preventthe radiation and consequent loss of heat byreason of the steam-pipe coming in contact with the earth.Atsuitableintervals around the annulus of the tubular protector I formother passages, of smaller diameter, adapted to receive telegraph wiresor cables. The sections of the tubular protectorare connected togetherat suitable intervals by means of connecting-blocks provided withcorrugations corresponding with corrugations in the ends of the sectionsof the protector. The blocks are so formed that they shall hold the endsof the sections at a considerable distance apart, and the upper sectionof the block is provided with a man-hole,whereby access may be readilyobtained to the telegraph-wires and a junction made with the steam-pipein order to conduct steam to any given place. The junction-pipe iscovered byasmaller protector, which is similarly provided withcorrugations and fits into a recess formed with corrugations in likemanner to the main sections. The lower half of the connecting-blocks.and the tubes having been placed in position, cement is run into thegrooves and placed on the junctions and upper sides of the tubes. Theuppcrhalt' of the connecting-block is then placed in post tion and thejoints securely made, a consider able hole or space being left betweenthe two ends of the main sectional protector and the branch protectorfor the purpose of enabling ready accessto be obtained to thesteam-pipes and telegraph-wires. The branch protectoris provided with anaperture or apertures for steanrpipes and also for branchtelegraphwires. The passages for the traverse of the wires occupy aconsiderable portion of the thickness of theprotector. Theyare sothickly introduced that they materially contribute to the non-conductingcharacter of the protector.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the iiivention.

Figure l is a plan view, showing the lower half of aconnecting-blockwith the ends of two main protectors secured therein, and also a branchprotector with a main and branch steam-pipe and amain and branchtelegraphic wire crossing therethrough. Fig. 2 is a vertical section,showing the upper and lower halves of theblocksin position with thesteampipe and telegra di-wires passing therethrough. Fig. 3 is across-section on the line as no.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A A represent the ends of two sections of my protectors, the centerpassage, A, of which is adapted to receive a main steam-pipe, B. Theannulus of the protector is provided with a series of holes, a, throughwhich are passed telegraphic wires or cables 0. The ends of the sectionsof the tubular protector A are provided with corrugations a, and areconnected together by means of blocks D I), provided with corrugations(1, corresponding with the corrugations a in the ends of sections of themain protector. The blocks]) D are formed with a cavity or man-hole, Din the center thereof, so as to hold the two sections of the tubularprotector at a considerable distance apart, leaving sufficient room forthe manipulation of the telegraphic wires and the'connection of branchwires thereto,.and also of connecting branch pipes to the main steampipeB. The cavity D in the upper block, D, is covered by a plate, E.

F is a branch protector, which is shown ar ranged at rightangles to themain sections A A. This branch protector is held in place in the blocksD D by means of corrugations a corresponding with similar corrugationsin the blocks D D. It is also provided with a central aperture for thepassage ofabrauch steampipe, I), and with smaller passages for thereception of branch telegraphic wires 0.

G represents the cement, which is run into the cavities d In carryingout my invention, wherever I desire to make a junction either for steamor telegraphic purposes I apply a pair of blocks, D D, with a suitableman-hole, D covered by a plate, E.

I have described my invention as applied to steam and telegraphicpurposes only. Itis, however, applicable to the protection of pipes forwater, telephonic, and pneumatic and similar purposes.

I prefer to form the protectors A A and the branch protectors F F ofburnt clay. They may, however, be formed of concrete or cement suitablycompressed. g

The small holes a, in addition to their function of receiving protectingtelegraph or other wires 0, perform an important function incontributing to increase the non-conducting character of the casing A.They form airspaces, and to a large extent entirely cut off the passageof heat. The only conduction of heat from the interior of the pipe tothe-exterior is through the small remaining spaces between the holes a.At the joints the blocks D D atford additional non-conducting material.The

cement G accommodatesitself to the positions of the parts, and makes awater-tight joint. It als by applying in the grooves in the respectiveparts, and filling them, locks the parts against any possible endwisemovement.

I claim as my invention- 1. A protector for steam or other pipes andtelegraphic wires or similar wires, having corrugations a, incombination with blocks 1) D, formed each in two parts halved together,and provided with corrugations (I, substantiallyas shown and described.

2. The combination, with the sectional blocks DD, provided with aman-hole, D and corrugations a (6 of main sections A A, and branchsections F F, formed with corrugations for the reception of cement,substantially as shown and described.

3. As an improvement in what is known as the Holly system ofsteam-heating, the protector A, of burnt clay or analogous earthy cheapnon-conducting material, having the large central passage A andsurrounding,

smaller passages a, in combination with the steam-pipe B and wires orcables 0, arranged to serve substantially as and for the purposes hereinspecified.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, this26th day of March, 1881, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTINE CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

Enw. WM. FRANCIS, W. COLBORNE BROOKES.

